Milwaukee, WI

Orlando Magic vs. Milwaukee Bucks (April 14, 2024): 3 Things To Watch, Odds and Prediction

Published

2 years ago

April 13, 2024

Orlando Magic vs. Milwaukee Bucks (April 14, 2024): 3 Things To Watch, Odds and Prediction

49-32. Bally Sports Florida, Bally Sports Wisconsin. 46-35. 1P. 89. April 14, 2024. Magic Bucks Matchup 04.14.24. 38. Magic by 5 (O/U 214)

WATCH MAGIC-BUCKS ON FUBO TV
FOLLOW LIVE: @OMAGICDAILY
Tickets: $32-$518 on StubHub
Season Series: Magic 112, Bucks 97 in Orlando on Nov. 11; Bucks 118, Magic 114 in Milwaukee on Dec. 21; Bucks 117, Magic 99 in Milwaukee on April 10; Today in Orlando

	Pace	Off. Rtg.	Def. Rtg. Advertisement	eFG%	O.Reb.%	TO%	FTR
Milwaukee Advertisement	100.6	117.9	115.0	56.9	25.6 Advertisement	12.7	27.0
Orlando	97.4	112.8 Advertisement	111.0	54.1	29.6	15.0	28.8 Advertisement

Our Record: 52-29/39-42 ATS

Well, here we are. Game 82. The Orlando Magic’s hopes of avoiding the Play-In Tournament rest on whether they can win one more game.

That has been the case for most of this week and the Magic have been unable to deliver.

But here they are back home at the Kia Center with the chance to set everything right and punch their ticket, likely securing the 5-seed and a return matchup with the Milwaukee Bucks in the process.

The task will not be easy.

The Magic’s game against the Bucks is the only game on the Eastern Conference slate of games (every team is playing on this final day of the season) that features two teams fighting for postseason position. There is a lot of pressure in this game, just as there has been a lot of pressure on all three games of this road trip.

The Bucks appear to be going after the 2-seed, even with the risk of drawing the Philadelphia 76ers or Miami Heat in the first round (although a win over the Magic would likely make it a choice of the Miami Heat or Magic based off Tuesday’s 7/8 Play-In Game).

There is a lot on the line for both teams. The question will be about which team comes out on top.

That is going to come down to nothing more than execution and who plays the best game. The Bucks have struggled mightily on the road this season, going just 18-21 on the road and losing seven of their last nine on the road.

The Magic are a significantly better team at the Kia Center. Orlando’s 28-12 record at home is the third-best in the Eastern Conference. If the Sixth Man can be a difference, it will be. The Magic just have to play well enough to take advantage of it.

38. Prediction. 108. 89. Magic Bucks Prediction 04.14.24. 115

Back to Basics of Your Defense

If there is one thing that has anchored the Orlando Magic throughout the season, it has been their defense. They said repeatedly they believed their defense would travel and help them in the Playoffs. They rank third in the league in defensive rating. It has been their backbone all year.

Even with their inconsistent offense, their defense was so good that it gave them a chance to win and gave Paolo Banchero a chance to try to close it out.

That is what was missing on this road trip.

The Magic gave up 110-plus points in three straight games for the first time since early January (the double-overtime loss to the Sacramento Kings and then the pair of wins over the Denver Nuggets and Atlanta Hawks).

To say the least, the defense has taken an unexpected downturn at the worst time. The question is whether that is a matter of bad shooting luck combined with a tired team not bringing the right focus or even some bad matchups with 5-out offenses that can stretch the team.

Regardless, if the Magic want to win this game, it will start with their defense. That is this team’s identity. And getting that back under control will be the biggest key to this game. Orlando cannot win if the team does not defend better.

Stepping Up and Filling In

The Milwaukee Bucks will be decidedly more healthy for Sunday’s finale than they were Wednesday in Milwaukee.

Khris Middleton will play after he sat out the second night of the Bucks’ home-home back-to-back on Wednesday. He scored 18 points on 7-for-10 shooting.

Damian Lillard will still soak up a lot of attention from the Magic’s defense. He sat out Friday’s game with a left adductor issue and is PROBABLE to play Sunday. He had 29 points on 10-for-19 shooting in the Bucks’ win on Wednesday.

The real difference though for the Bucks is who else will help fill in for Giannis Antetokounmpo’s absence. That answer became obvious quickly with Bobby Portis scoring 24 of his 30 points in the first half to break the Magic’s defense and shift the attention away from Lillard.

Portis came back with just 4 points on 2-for-7 shooting in Friday’s loss.

The Bucks were happy to see Malik Beasley find his stroke for 17 points on 3-for-5 shooting from deep. But it is clear the Bucks are looking for consistency. They need one more major scorer to get them through these games.

That will be what Orlando has to be on guard for. The team will put a lot of pressure and attention on Lillard and they will do their best to limit his impact. But a lot of it comes down to whether someone makes the Magic pay for that attention. Portis did that on Wednesday.

On the road, that will be tougher to do. But the Magic will have to be ready to adjust if someone unexpected goes off.

Home/Road Difference

Franz Wagner was not particularly glum when he spoke to the media in Philadelphia after Friday’s loss.

Maybe that was a sign that the Orlando Magic were generally pleased with their effort and how they played in a most competitive game. Maybe that is a sign that this team has a ton of confidence at the Kia Center.

The Magic have the third-best record in the Eastern Conference at home with a 28-12 home record (that includes the loss to the Atlanta Hawks in Mexico City. The Magic’s offensive rating jumps from 112.8 to 115.4 at home and their defensive rating jumps from 111.0 points allowed per 100 possessions to 108.0.

The Bucks have the opposite problem. Milwaukee is 18-21 away from FiservForum with a 116.5/117.1 offensive/defensive rating split (they are 117.9/115.0 overall).

If the Magic feel they can take a major step forward and win this game it is that their defense is that much better at home and their offense can find some footing a gainst a defense that loses its focus away from home.

Next. Magic dream season 04.13.24. Orlando Magic’s 2024 season a dream despite final week nightmare. dark

That is not something to lean on, of course. This is a do-or-die game and the Bucks have far more experience playing under that pressure. But the Magic are looking for their home crowd to give them an energy boost. They will need it because it clearly helps them.

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Milwaukee, WI

Milwaukee Common Council opposes We Energies’ data center rate plan

Published

12 hours ago

March 3, 2026

Press Room

Milwaukee Common Council opposes We Energies’ data center rate plan

The Milwaukee Common Council has called on state utility regulators to reject We Energies’ data center rate proposal in its current form.

The council unanimously adopted a resolution March 3 opposing We Energies’ proposal to create a separate energy rate for large-scale data centers, saying the plan does not go far enough to protect ratepayers.

At the same time, a group of council members led by District 14 Ald. Marina Dimitrijevic is drafting a six-month moratorium on data center development in the city of Milwaukee.

We Energies’ plan “is not a good deal for Milwaukeeans,” Dimitrijevic said during a Common Council meeting March 3.

We Energies’ proposal would create a separate energy rate for “very large” customers with an expected load of 500 megawatts or more. These very large customers, which include data center developers like Microsoft and Vantage, would pay for the massive amount of new infrastructure being built to serve them.

In October, We Energies filed plans to build more than $5 billion in new solar projects and natural gas plants to meet electricity demand brought by hyperscale data centers.

The utility says its rate plan protects customers from bearing costs associated with these projects, and hold data center companies responsible for costs through the life of the new assets.

“Our proposal is fair, transparent, and establishes strong safeguards — including binding agreements so data centers owners, not other customers, pay for the infrastructure they require,” We Energies spokesperson Brendan Conway said in a statement. “That means Wisconsin families are not subsidizing these projects.”

The resolution, introduced by Dimitrijevic, calls for stronger ratepayer protections, including binding service agreements that last the life of new infrastructure and include termination charges. It also wants the “very large” customer threshold lowered from 500 megawatts to prevent avoidance by data center companies.

In filings submitted to the Public Service Commission, We Energies said it would be willing to lower the threshold to 250 megawatts.

The resolution took particular issue with We Energies’ proposed cost split for the new natural gas plants. Under the current proposal, data center companies would pay for 75% of operating and maintenance, and other ratepayers would cover the remaining 25% as well as annual fuel costs.

We Energies says the plants will serve all customers as demand for energy is projected to rise across rate classes.

“If data centers never existed, we would’ve had to have built other plants, other power generation to meet our customers’ increasing need,” Conway previously told the Journal Sentinel.

The resolution said data center companies should pay “100% of all incremental and fixed costs required to serve them, including generation capacity, operations and maintenance, and fuel costs attributable to serving the data center load.”

Council members’ concerns echo those brought by environmental and consumer advocacy groups during a public hearing Feb. 10. The Public Service Commission will rule on the proposal by May 1.

This is not the first time the City of Milwaukee has weighed in on We Energies cases brought before the Public Service Commission. It’s intervened in opposition to previous energy rate hikes proposed by the utility, arguing they disproportionately burden thousands of low-income Milwaukee households.

In December, Dimitrijevic proposed a six-month moratorium on data center development in the city. The pause will give council members time to establish a regulatory framework for large-scale data center proposals, she told the Journal Sentinel.

“Sometimes the economy moves so quickly that we haven’t been able to catch up in licensing,” Dimitrijevic said. “We have to set up a careful way to regulate it and have public input.”

A group of aldermen want to require data center developers apply for a special use permit through the Milwaukee Zoning Appeals Board, a process they say creates more transparency. Should this pass, large data center proposals would be subject to public hearings, and the Zoning Appeals Board can reject a plan based on public health concerns.

The moratorium will receive a public hearing in the next few weeks.

This article was updated to include new information.

Francesca Pica can be reached at fpica@usatodayco.com.

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Milwaukee, WI

Check out these Milwaukee-area places to celebrate Pi Day on March 14

Published

24 hours ago

March 3, 2026

Press Room

Check out these Milwaukee-area places to celebrate Pi Day on March 14

For math enthusiasts and foodies, Pi Day on March 14 is upon us once again.

We all know what pie is, but what the heck is pi? Pi ― 3.14 ― is the ratio of the circumference of a circle (the distance around the outside of it) to the diameter of that circle (the distance edge-to-edge). As we may have learned in math class, no matter the size of the circle, pi is always 3.14.

Hence on March 14, many bakeries and eateries in and around Milwaukee are offering pie sales and diverse pie selections. A selection of them are listed below.

Note that pie availability is typically while supplies last and preordering or calling beforehand is recommended. If there is a bakery or restaurant that is recognizing Pi Day and is not included in this list, let us know so we can add it.

Gather Bakehouse in Bay View

At Gather Bakehouse, the bakery will have mini 3-inch pies as well as 9-inch pies. Flavors include Dutch apple, strawberry rhubarb, cherry, French silk, honey custard and key lime. There will also be preorder options.

Location: 1100 E. Oklahoma Ave., Milwaukee

Hours: 6 a.m. to 3 p.m. Tuesday through Friday; 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. It’s closed on Monday.

For more information: Visit gatherbakehouse.com

National Bakery & Deli in Brookfield, Greendale and Milwaukee

National Bakery & Deli will have multiple pies available for National Pi Day: banana cream, cherry, apple, chocolate cream, Dutch apple and strawberry cream.

Location: 13820 W. Greenfield Ave., Brookfield; 5637 Broad St., Greendale; and 3200 S. 16th St., Milwaukee.

Hours for all locations: 6:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday through Friday; and 6:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday.

For more information or to order online: Visit nationalbakery.com

Kelly’s Pot Pies & More in Greenfield and East Troy

Kelly’s Pot Pies & More will have $3.14 off any large Reuben pot pie or shepherd’s pie beginning Pi Day and running through St. Patrick’s Day. These specials will be at both the East Troy and Greenfield stores.

Kelly’s Pot Pies & More also has other pot pies, including beef, turkey, veggie, taco and pizza. They also offer quiche, cheesecake, lemon torte and key lime pie.

To help guarantee a pie, order online two hours or more in advance.

Locations: 3785 S. 108th St. in Greenfield; and 3268 Main St. in East Troy

Hours: 11 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Tuesday through Friday; and 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday

To order online or for more information: Visit kellyspotpies.com.

Mr. Dye’s Pies at 3rd Street Market Hall in Milwaukee

At Mr. Dye’s Pies at 3rd Street Market Hall, there are a plethora of pies sold by the slice or as a whole pie including peanut butter, sweet potato, pecan, key lime and blueberry.Location: 5504 W. State St. (First Floor, South Hall located in the row of stalls to the right of Dairyland)

Hours: 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Tuesday through Thursday; 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Friday and Saturday; and 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Sunday

For more information: Visit 3rdstmarkethall.com/locations/all-vendors/mrdyespies

The Elegant Farmer in Mukwonago

The Elegant Farmer will participate on National Pi Day from March 9 to 15 and will offer $3.14 off 5-inch apple pies baked in a paper bag (original price is $9.99). The pies baked in a bag feature a flaky crust with a sugar cookie-like top.

Location: 1545 Main St. (at Highways ES & J) in Mukwonago

Hours: 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily

For more information or to order: Order online at elegantfarmer.com or call 262-363-6770

Periwinkle’s Bakery in Waukesha

Periwinkle’s Bakery on Broadway in Waukesha will have its full pie menu for special order on March 14 and a variety of 9-inch-deep dish pies for sale that same day at its retail location at neighboring Rochester Deli. These include French Silk, caramel apple, Key West lime, wild blueberry and peanut butter French silk.

Online orders need to be placed the week prior.

Location: 143 W. Broadway, Waukesha (Bakery for purchase inside of Rochester Deli)

Hours: 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday through Thursday; 10 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. Friday; and 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday

For more information: Visit periwinklesbakery.com

All in Favor, Say Pie in Waukesha

At All in Favor, Say Pie, you can order your pie online to pick up in Waukesha. Flavors include Door County cherry pie, apple blueberry, Dutch apple pie, cranberry apple, mixed berry and blueberry. Pies should be ordered two to five days in advance.

For more information and to order: Visit https://sites.google.com/view/allinfavorsaypie/home

Aggie’s Bakery and Cake Shop in West Allis

Aggie’s Bakery and Cake Shop will sell pies including cherry, apple, caramel apple, blueberry, peach and banana cream pie on National Pi Day.

Location: 7328 W. Greenfield Ave., West Allis

Hours: 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday; 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday; and 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Sunday

For more information: Call 414-482-1288 or visit aggiesbakery.com

The Bake Sale in West Allis

The Bake Sale in West Allis has pie options that customers can order online days in advance which include key lime, French silk, apple, caramel apple, strawberry rhubarb, pecan, whiskey chocolate pecan and fruity pebble. Pies are available on National Pi Day while supplies last. Select pies are available in the store.

Location: 6923 W. Becher St., West Allis

Hours: 6:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. Monday through Wednesday; 6:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Thursday and Friday; 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday; and 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Sunday

For more information or to order: 414-543-4230 or bakesalewestallis.com

Bishop’s Sweets in West Allis

For National Pi Day, Bishop’s Sweets will have whole pies and slices available while supplies last. If you want a specialty pie or to ensure there is one ready, order the pie 72 hours before March 14.

The featured pie flavors include apple, cherry, banana cream, coconut cream and Bishop’s Sweets requested favorite, French silk pie. The bakery will also be introducing additional pies for people to try, including chess, buttermilk and Mississippi mud pie.

Location: 8005 W. Lincoln Ave., West Allis. Bishop’s Sweets also offers delivery through Uber Eats and DoorDash.

Hours: 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. on National Pi Day, March 14, or until the pies are sold out. Otherwise, hours are 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Friday; 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday; and noon to 4 p.m. on Sunday. (It is closed Monday through Thursday.)

For more information: Visit www.facebook.com/BishopsSweets or call 414-763-2436.

Cathy Kozlowicz can be reached at 262-361-9132 or cathy.kozlowicz@jrn.com. Follow her on X at @kozlowicz_cathy

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Milwaukee, WI

Milwaukee Bucks injury report: Is Giannis playing tonight vs. Celtics?

Published

1 day ago

March 2, 2026

Press Room

Milwaukee Bucks injury report: Is Giannis playing tonight vs. Celtics?

The Milwaukee Bucks host the Boston Celtics at Fiserv Forum just over 24 hours after one of their most disappointing losses of the season, when they scored just eight fourth-quarter points and gave up a 39-point swing in the second half in a blowout loss at Chicago on March 1.

Boston comes into town as one of the league’s hottest teams having won eight of its last 10 and after beating Philadelphia on March 1. The Celtics (40-20) are currently the No. 2 seed in the Eastern Conference and are looking to stay in front of New York.

The Bucks (26-33), meanwhile, had been winning games but have dropped two in a row and three of their last five. In those three losses, all to teams currently in the Eastern Conference playoff picture, the team failed to score 100 points.

Is Giannis playing?

Yes.

Giannis Antetokounmpo began the day as questionable to play, and was upgraded to available after his pregame workout. It was the first time he had been listed as anything other than “out” since reinjuring his calf on Jan. 23. The game will mark the return of the former two-time MVP, who has missed the last 15 games with a strain of his soleus muscle in his right calf.

What is the Bucks record without Giannis?

11-17.

Milwaukee is 15-15 when Antetokounmpo plays any number of minutes. They are 1-2 when he has exited games early due to injury.

Is Jayson Tatum playing?

No.

Boston’s all-NBA wing is continuing to work his way back from a torn Achilles tendon suffered during the playoffs in May. Tatum has been doing five-on-five work lately.

Boston Celtics injury report

Jayson Tatum, out (Achilles)
Jaylen Brown, out (illness)
Neemias Queta, out (rest)

Taurean Prince, out (neck surgery)

Giannis Antetokounmpo, questionable (right calf strain)

Bucks probable starters

Guard: AJ Green, Ryan Rollins, Kevin Porter Jr.
Forward: Giannis Antetokounmpo
Center: Myles Turner

What time is the Bucks game?

The game is scheduled to begin at 6:30 p.m. CT.

What channel is the Bucks game on?

The game will be broadcast locally on FanDuel Sports Network Wisconsin with Lisa Byington, Wesley Matthews and Melanie Ricks on the call. The game was originally supposed to be a national broadcast on Peacock but was moved to NBA TV.

NBA playoff standings

The Bucks are currently out of the postseason picture entirely. Here are the play-in standings in the Eastern Conference heading into game play on March 2:

No. 7: Orlando (31-28): The Bucks and Magic have split the season series 1-1. The Bucks host the Magic on March 8.

No. 8: Miami (32-29): The Bucks and Magic have split the season series 1-1. Milwaukee travels to Miami on March 12.

No. 9: Atlanta (31-31): The Bucks lead the season series 1-0. The Bucks host the Hawks on March 4 and then travel to Atlanta on March 14.

No. 10: Charlotte (30-31): The Bucks own the tiebreaker over the Hornets having won the season series 3-1.

No. 11: Milwaukee (26-33): The Bucks have had better luck against the play-in teams to date, as they are just 5-13 against the top six seeds in the conference.

“We say we didn’t play ourselves out of it,” Bucks head coach Doc Rivers said. “Obviously I’m competitive. I think we should’ve had an even better record. But, not having your best player for that long and staying above .500 is huge for us. It’s funny, when he went out (Jan. 23) the talk around me was ‘being .500’ and I was like we can be better than that. We were. I’ll take it. But, never satisfied.”

The four teams in the play-in will face one another to determine the final two playoff teams (which will face the top two seeds). Teams that hold the Nos. 7 and 8 seeds only have to win one game to advance, teams that hold the Nos. 8 and 9 seeds must win twice to advance